If you haven’t yet signed our Bedroom Tax petition please sign it online here or print the paper version available here.
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Bedroom Tax campaign gathers momentum as Bristol City Council reveals that 70% of those affected are in arrears.
Lots has been happening in the Bedroom Tax campaign over the last few weeks. Campaigners locally are taking part in a national ‘Mass Sleep Out’ in protest at the Bedroom Tax on Saturday 24th August at 7pm on College Green. Click here for more details.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party have released council figures showing that the proportion of those affected by the tax locally, who are in arrears, has risen from 40% before April to 70% in July. The average arrears owed by tenants affected by the Bedroom Tax have risen from £118 to £182. 
Full report here:
http://www.bristol247.com/2013/07/24/bedroom-tax-bristol-rent-arrears-soar-after-introduction-12928/
BADACA has kept the pressure up on the mayor & the council who must decide in September if they want to start evicting people. We lobbied the council cabinet meeting held recently at Filwood Community Centre. In a written question, we asked about the progress made by the cross-party Working Group looking at the Bedroom Tax policy. Green Councillor Gus Hoyt, who is chair of the Bedroom Tax committee, said that they had met three times and were planning to meet three more times before September. He also said that they were looking to relax the rules about tenants doing house swaps when they had rent arrears to make it easier to downsize. In the meeting we asked about whether tenants affected by the Bedroom Tax were being consulted. Gus said that tenants affected could be co-opted onto the committee (see video). If you’re interested, or would just like Gus to know your views, please email him at gus.hoyt@bristol.gov.uk .
BADACA question at 5 min 39 sec:
Lawrence Weston now has an active Bedroom Tax group which is planning its third meeting on Thursday 22nd August. (Click here for details.)
There is also a stall by the Co-op in Ridingleaze, Lawrence Weston from 11am on Saturday 17th August (Click here for more details.)
Much more in the BADACA Against the Bedroom Tax Facebook Group.
